God Whispers is about hearing the heart of God for His children.

Monthly Archives: October 2018

The sun always rises and brings a fresh day.
It has done so every single day every since God created it and placed it in the heavens.
Even on the darkest most dreary day, we have evidence that the sun is there.

God said his mercies are new every morning. One of His names is Faithful and True.

The waves on the shore ebb and flow. They have every single day since God spoke the seas into being.

The sound, sight and smell of the beach brings comfort to our soul and our heart and awakens our spirit to peace.

Another of God’s names is Sar Shalom, Prince of Peace.

God’s Word is eternal. It delights our soul and brings peace. The truth and comfort found there is eternal.

Psalm 84:11
For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Isaiah 9:6
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace”

Lamentations 3:22-23
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Revelation 19:11
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

Memories on FB showed me something I wrote after the hurricane in 2016. That was also just a few weeks before Don died. Little did I know that in the next two years I would have to apply that “thinking” in my own life.

I decided to create a visual. The trees in this picture have withstood not just the hurricane in 2016 but another in 2017. They are still there today.

Death is a different sort of storm. It is, as I said in the original writing a season of drought and wind and storms.

Just like in a hurricane, it causes change in everyone around you. The roles of the relationship cease. Life is vastly different. Dynamics of family and friends change. Our very identity changes. Death is much bigger and more far reaching than the loss of a person.

BUT if we are like a tree planted by streams of Living Water, we will endure and not just endure, we can flourish. Just like these trees at Mandarin Park.

ORIGINAL THINKING: Thinking….
We had the hurricane. Seemingly healthy and sturdy trees were simply uprooted. People are helping others too.
Then reading today in Jer 17:8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
We can not tell by looking at a person how they really are. How deep their “roots” go. Sometimes we do have deep roots and then such a huge storm comes that we need to be “shorn up” by others too.
How does a tree get deep roots? By going through times of “drought” in part. By facing “winds” and “storms”.
The notion came to me that one reason we are instructed to “Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) could be because just like the trees in my town, we NEED strong roots in God. Every trial, every struggle, every “drought, storm, wind” we face could be something that is sending our roots deeper and deeper into the bedrock/cornerstone which is faith in Jesus.
Be blessed in the Lord this day,
Joan

When you see life (or events of life) with spiritual eyes,
Then you are seeing with the eyes of your heart,
That Jesus gave you or awakened in you.

You can only do that to the extent that your heart is surrendered to and enmeshed with/in Jesus.
Holy Spirit awakens the spiritual which then takes the natural and integrates it (both you as a person and the natural gifts) into a spiritual dimension/reality.

Often we do not “see” or understand what on earth is going on around us. We can not see how any possible goodness could come out of it. But God has promised good to those who love Him and are called according to His name. (Romans 8:28)
So Lord, help us to see the bigger picture and not become bogged down in “stuff”. Help us to remember “perspective” how things look bigger when we are close to them, that even an ant can appear huge if it is fills our line of vision. Help us to see with eyes of hope.

Jeremiah 31:25
for I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.”
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

I woke up thinking about some people I know. They have their trials, we all do. But they are STRONG in the LORD.

The phrase I woke with was STRONG in the LORD and in HIS Mighty POWER. That is found in Ephesians 6:10 but there are many places where we are reminded that when we ARE weak, and we often are, then we are also STRONG in/because of the LORD.

James 1:2-4 says: 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

These particular ladies have lived that way and are living that way.
Then I went on to think of others, probably all who are reading this, who are STRONG even when they feel very weak and overwhelmed.
Life can be overwhelming and that is OK because Jesus said, “When (not if) your heart is overwhelmed come to the Rock.” (Psalm 61:2)

Verses to Ponder:
Eph 6:10 be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

2 Timothy 2:1 You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 138:3 In the day when I cried you answered me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul.

Psalm 63:7-8 For You are my help; I will sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
2 Cor. 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.